Nov 41 M1 Garand L/L

I had to broker a collection last year for a close friend who past away. I was given an M1 totally and completely covered in spar varnish. It appeared to have been dipped into a vat of the stuff. I took one look at the rear sight and realized I was in for a nasty project. I'll spare you the details, but, took off about five years of my life with the chemicals I used, but, discovered a New condition Nov41 British Lend Lease under the finish, the only part not correct is the stock and that's because the rocket scientist that covered it with Varnish also sanded the stock, Everything else is totally text book, Throat is less than 1 and muzzle is as new. Would any of you M1 Hardcores have any idea how much I can plann to part with finding a replacement stock should I go that route (I may keep it as is)? My son fired 3 5 shot groups under 2.5" @100 yards w/KO M2 ball-SDH

I can't say how much the stock will be because the prices here in Canada have nothing to do with you in the US. I have a 8-41 LL with the GHS cartouch on the stock. My number is 328xxx and yours must be just a bit higher? How bout some pics?

BAR, I have 327580 and the only part not correct is the firing pin. Not an LL but hey!

I have 422881,all correct, also NOT a LL. Back in the day, the LL was looked upon like an Import is today and the non LL was more desirable. I am not sure what the feeling is today.

I think in the US a non import or LL is more desireable. Just my opinion. Here in Canada no one knows the difference. Just me... We have had this discussion before by the way. Bill, I have the original round firing pin but I removed it and put it aside. I shoot mine regularly and couldn't stomach the thought of having happen what Pyle shows in his book. Mine has quite a history with me maybe some time I can fill you in on it!Image hosting, free photo sharing video sharing at Photobucket

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I think in the US a non import or LL is more desireable. Just my opinion. Here in Canada no one knows the difference. Just me... We have had this discussion before by the way. Bill, I have the original round firing pin but I removed it and put it aside. I shoot mine regularly and couldn't stomach the thought of having happen what Pyle shows in his book. Mine has quite a history with me maybe some time I can fill you in on it!Image hosting, free photo sharing video sharing at Photobucket

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Agreed that a "non import" is more desireable but how does a 1941 non LL stack up to a 1941 LL ?? Years ago the LL was looked upon as an "import" and the non LL was more desireable. I am not so sure that is still the case.

My rifle has the round firing pin still in the rifle, as I don't shoot it. I can assure you, that if I did shoot it, I too would change not only the firing pin, but also the stock.

We did discuss this on a similar thread here and the opinion seemed to be just as you say Joe, the LL mark doesn't seem to matter much. Comparitive rarity I guess. But, take note that we still discuss them as LL and non LL. By the way Joe, why would you change your stock before shooting?

Jim

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Originally Posted by sdh1911

Would any of you M1 Hardcores have any idea how much I can plann to part with finding a replacement stock should I go that route (I may keep it as is)? -SDH

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Stock prices are primarily dependent on condition and rarity. Nice GHS stocks are quite rare. For a well-used and worn-looking GHS, you could easily spent a minimum of $300. For a truly primo example, you may hit a high price of close to $1000. An average stock will fall somewhere in between.

DISCLAIMER: These prices are just my opinion, and others may offer lower or even higher estimates. :D

I can remember when people would purchase Lend Lease rifles just to harvest the parts - and the stock for their pre war example of a non Lend Lease rifle.
I have also seen a few Lend Lease rifles that had "custom work" like mounting a scope, adding a recoil pad and sanding down the stock - these custom rifles also added to the parts havest. I can also remember when the CMP had barreled receivers in the Nov - Dec 1941 range.

As a collector of the early variations, the non Lend Lease late 1941 was more
desirable and there were more fakes then original examples - in the "same" condition as the Lend Lease rifles.

Stock values - SA SPG and WRA RS stocks are over the $3000 range while
the WRA WB are around the $1500 - $2000 range the SA GHS would have to equal the WRA WB in price and the SA GHS cartouche is about the number 1 on the fake cartouche list too

BAR and Joe, I too would not leave a round pin in unless I were not going to shoot it. I would just like to have one so I could say it is ALL there.

Years ago when the Lend Lease rifles were more available, people shot thousands of rounds through these rifles (myself included) - only when
information became available during the 90's - that the hazard became known.
I would never use the round firing pin again.

If you save a round firing pin - do some homework and make sure it is a SA round firing pin as there were alot of Winchesters around.

Can you enlighten a new guy about the issue with a round fireing pin? I have a HR M1 from 1954 that has been rebuilt, so I don't know if the fireing pin is original or not. Thanks

The round pins were used on very early M1s. If I am correct, they have a propensity to breakage which can cause catastrophic failure to the rifle when the round goes off out of battery.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

We did discuss this on a similar thread here and the opinion seemed to be just as you say Joe, the LL mark doesn't seem to matter much. Comparitive rarity I guess. But, take note that we still discuss them as LL and non LL. By the way Joe, why would you change your stock before shooting?

Jim

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No point in taking a chance of damaging a $ 1000.00 + stock when you don't have to.

RCS said, "... remember when people would purchase Lend Lease rifles just to harvest the parts"

Yep, I do too ... I also recall that really nice regular barrels from the LL dates were in great demand by people who wanted to replace the one that had those disgraceful Brit proofs and keep everything else the same :)

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Originally Posted by bob seijas

RCS said, "... remember when people would purchase Lend Lease rifles just to harvest the parts"

Yep, I do too ... I also recall that really nice regular barrels from the LL dates were in great demand by people who wanted to replace the one that had those disgraceful Brit proofs and keep everything else the same :)

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Quite right! I don't collect Garands any more, just parts....some of which happen to fly in chronologically correct formation...The post War rebuild programs and years of "collectors" "improving" their rifles make most any early WWII rifle (even some LL examples) quite suspect as to "all original". All "correct" maybe, ...yah, there's a very few, but!!! A good LL rifle is about the only way to be reasonably sure of an original piece- but then it didn't likely see front line service, so -no mystery of history.

I think for now I'll leave it be, but, pull the firing pin went it makes the range trips, Thanks you all for your input!-SDH